Leukeran Side Effects

Generic Name: chlorambucil

Please note - some side effects for Leukeran may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Leukeran - for the Consumer

Leukeran

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Leukeran:

Agitation; clumsiness; confusion; diarrhea; tingling or numbness in the hands and feet; tiredness; tremors; twitching.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); absence of monthly period; chills; congestion; excessive tiredness; fever; hallucinations; hip, stomach, or joint pain; infertility; nausea; persistent cough; seizures; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; sore throat; sores in the mouth or on the lips; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual lumps or masses; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Leukeran Side Effects - for the Professional

Leukeran

Hematologic

The most common side effect is bone marrow suppression, anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or pancytopenia. Although bone marrow suppression frequently occurs, it is usually reversible if the chlorambucil is withdrawn early enough. However, irreversible bone marrow failure has been reported.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and oral ulceration occur infrequently.

CNS

Tremors, muscular twitching, myoclonia, confusion, agitation, ataxia, flaccid paresis, and hallucinations have been reported as rare adverse experiences to chlorambucil which resolve upon discontinuation of drug. Rare, focal and/or generalized seizures have been reported to occur in both children and adults at both therapeutic daily doses and pulse-dosing regimens, and in acute overdose.

Dermatologic

Allergic reactions such as urticaria and angioneurotic edema have been reported following initial or subsequent dosing. Skin hypersensitivity (including rare reports of skin rash progressing to erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome) has been reported.

Miscellaneous

Other reported adverse reactions include: pulmonary fibrosis, hepatotoxicity and jaundice, drug fever, peripheral neuropathy, interstitial pneumonia, sterile cystitis, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies.

Side Effects by Body System

Hematologic

Bone marrow suppression has been reported to usually be reversible if chlorambucil is withdrawn early enough. However, irreversible bone marrow failure has been reported.

Hematologic side effects including bone marrow suppression have been the most commonly reported with the use of chlorambucil. Anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia have also been reported.

Nervous system

Most nervous system effects have been reported to resolve upon discontinuation of the drug.

The manufacturer has noted that children with nephrotic syndrome and patients receiving high pulse doses of chlorambucil may have an increased risk of seizures.

Nervous system side effects including coma, tremors, muscular twitching, confusion, agitation, ataxia, flaccid paresis, hallucinations, and focal and/or generalized seizures have been reported rarely. Peripheral neuropathy has also been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included skin hypersensitivity with rare reports of skin rash progressing to erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and oral ulceration have been reported infrequently. Jaundice has also been reported.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial pneumonia have been reported.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including hepatotoxicity have been reported. A case of chlorambucil-induced acute hepatic failure has been reported in a patient with membranous nephropathy.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including sterile cystitis and infertility have been reported.

Oncologic

Oncologic side effects including leukemia and secondary malignancies have been reported.

General

General side effects including drug fever have been reported.

Ocular

Ocular side effects including one case of visual failure and optic atrophy have been reported.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects including lethargy and stupor have been reported.

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